Saad Altaf rips through Rawalpindi

Wickets tumbled on the second day at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium where State Bank of Pakistan finished on top against Rawalpindi. Starting the day on 162 for 4, SBP were bowled out for 238. Reeling at 173 for 7 at one stage, they recovered thanks to a lower-order resistance from Rameez Alam and Gulraiz Sadaf, who chipped in with useful contributions. For Rawalpindi, seamer Mohammad Rameez picked up five wickets for 38. While the bowlers brought Rawalpindi back into the match, the batsmen let them down. Usman Saeed managed a top score of 22 in an innings that was ripped apart by seamer Saad Altaf, who grabbed 7 for 59, his career-best effort. He helped SBP bowl out Rawalpindi for 121 in just 30 overs. Having secured a lead of 117, SBP were 24 without loss by the close.

Water and Power Development Authority held the advantage over Islamabadat the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad. By stumps on the second day, they had secured a 52-run lead with six wickets in hand. WAPDA lost Rafatullah Mohmand, Asif Khan and Ayaz Tasawwar after the trio had got starts but Aamer Sajjad and Bilal Khilji rebuilt the innings and turned the tide. Sajjad struck 13 fours and a six in his unbeaten 106, his eleventh first-class ton, and added 148 for the fourth wicket with Khilji, who made 70 before being dismissed. At stumps, WAPDA were 284 for 4.

Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited piled up 498 for 9 in their first innings against Abbottabadat the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. The hosts were 82 for 3 at stumps, the initiative still firmly with the visitors. ZTBL were resting comfortably at 305 for 3 overnight and though they lost Shahid Yousuf for 83 early in the day, Haris Sohail built on his half-century to finish with 151, his fourth first-class century. Zohaib Khan supported him with 51 in a fifth-wicket stand worth 116. Seamer Ahmed Jamal helped reduce the damage somewhat and ZTBL eventually declared. In their response, Abbottabad lost opener Rameez Ahmed, Almar Afridi and Asif Ali before the close, still 416 runs adrift.

Faisalabad had the edge over Habib Bank Limited in an intriguing clash at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. At 219 for 8 overnight, Faisalabad folded for 247 on the second morning; Danish Kaneria picked up 6 for 91. HBL, however, capitulated in their response. Only Khaqan Arsal put up any significant resistance with his 71; seamer Abdur Rauf collected 5 for 53, Naseer Akram took 3 for 41 and all HBL could manage was 156 in 55.5 overs, conceding a lead of 91. There were more twists in store: Fahad Masood removed opener Shahid Siddiq and nightwatchman Shoaib Shah in quick time, leaving Faisalabad on 13 for 2, a lead of 104.

National Bank of Pakistan were on track of taking control of their contest against Karachi Bluesat the National Stadium in Karachi. Left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz tore through the Karachi batting, which had won its team the honours on day one, picking up six wickets. His victims included the centurion Asad Baig in a collapse during which Karachi lost six wickets for 49 runs. NBP replied strongly and were in an excellent position to take a first-innings lead, reaching 227 for 2 by stumps. Opener Nasir Jamshed made an unbeaten 127 and Aqeel Anjum supported him in a stand of 198 that is still ongoing, helping NBP overcome the loss of two early wickets. NBP are now 71 runs behind with eight wickets in hand.

Big centuries from opener and captain Kamran Sajid and Faisal Iqbal helped Pakistan International Airlines amass 505 against Sialkotat the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot. Kamran went on to add 51 more to his overnight score of 122, while Faisal, on 46 at stumps on day two, made an unbeaten 165. He struck 22 fours while his centurion partner struck 24; the pair's stand was worth 204. Faisal also shared productive partnerships with Fahad Iqbal and Shoaib Khan snr before his captain declared, with just four wickets down. In their response, Sialkot lost opener Jawad Ahmed for 10 and ended the day on 62 for 1.

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